Strip-transfer mechanism



Feb. 23, 1943. P. s sMn-H STRIP-TRANSFER MECHANISM n Orgir-lal FiledJulyl 15, 194.0l 9 Sheets- Sheet 1 Feb. 23, 1943. P. s. sMm-l 2,312,129

STRIP-TRANSFER MECHANISM Original Filed July 15, 1940 9 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR pau; SSMITH ATTORNEYS Feb. 23, 1943. P.A s. sMlTH 2,312,129

sflRIP-TRANSFR MEGHANISM v v original Filed July 1 5, f194o 9sheets-sheet. s

N v y Y INVENITCR 'c3 PAUL s SMITH BY v ATroRNEYs Feb. 23, 1943.

STRIP-'TRANSFER MECHANI SM Original Filed July 15. 1940 9 Sheets-Sheelb4 'wangd SSMITH l ATTO RN EYS P. S.V SMITH STRIP-TRANSFER MECHANISM Feb.2,'s,'19'43.v

original Filed July 15', 1940 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 lNvEN-mf PAUL S. SMITH.

ATTORNEY Feb. 23.,v |1943," P s, SMTH 2,312,129

STRIP-TRANSFER MECHANISM Original lFiled July 15, 1940 QYSheets-Sheet 6:PAUL S. SMITH l BY M 9m ATTORNEYS INVENTOR Feb. 23, 1943. P. s. sMm-r2,312,129

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P. S. SMITH STRIP-TRANSFER MECHANISM original Filed .July 1:5,4 1940 9Sheets-Sheet 9 HH IHN f pf2- f 11 PAUL S. SMITH ATTORNEYS Patented Feb.23, 1943 STRIP-TRANSFER MECHANISM Paul S. Smith, Rockford, Ill.,assignor to Ralph S. Allen, Birmingham, Mich.; Dwight Porter Allenadministrator of said Ralph S. Allen, deceased Original application July15, 1940, Serial No. 345,448. Divided and this application April 17,1942, Serial No. 439,438

l(Cl. 154-1) 6 Claims.

This application is a division of my co-pending application, Serial No.345,448, led July 15, 1940, for apparatus for making cemented pilefabric, that is to say, apparatus for use in the manufacture of thattype of pile fabric in which the bers forming the pile are attached to abacking fabric by cementing material. 'Ihe invention of said applicationrelates to improvements upon the apparatus disclosed and claimed inUnited States Letters Patent, No. 2,050,740, patented to me on August11, 1936, and the apparatus forming the subject-matter of saidapplication is useful in carrying out the method disclosed and claimedin United States Letters Patent, No. 2,051,010, also patented to me onAugust 11, 1936. The present application relates to improvements instrip-transfer mechanism forming a part of said apparatus.

It has long been known that pile fabric may be manufactured by cementingthe fibers forming the pile to a backing sheet, or fabric, and the usualpractice has been to attach such bers to the backing sheet in loopedform with the loop portions of the pile fibers cemented to the backingsheet. Such bers may be applied either in the form of yarn or as unspunfibers. The principal ob'ject of the invention forming the subject of mysaid application, Serial No. 345,448, was to provide an improvedapparatus by means of which such cemented pile fabric can bemanufactured at a lower cost than is possible by apparatus heretoforeproposed for use.

In said apparatus, a warp of yarns or unspun iibers is plaited aboutseparator strips which are successively deposited in the mouth of aconfining passage, in which a plaited structure is formed from saidstrips and the Warp. 'I'he principal object of my present invention isto provide an improved mechanism for receiving the separator strips froma magazine, one by one, and transferring and delivering themsuccessively to the plaiting mechanism for the formation of the plaitedstructure.

A further object of my present invention is to provide an improvedstrip-transfer mechanism for receiving separator strips from a supplyand transferring these strips, one by one, to the mouth of the confiningpassage in which a plaited structure is built up from separator stripsand a. warp.

Further objects, and objects relating to details of construction andeconomies of manufacture, will denitely appear from the detaileddescription to follow. In one instance, I have accomplished the objectsof my invention by the devices and means set forth in the followingspecification. My invention is clearly defined and pointed out in theappended claims. A structure constituting a preferred embodiment of theinvention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which:

Figures 1 and 1A, taken together, are a View in front elevation of myimproved machine for making cemented pile fabric;

Fig. 2 is a View, in rear elevation, of the plaiting section of themachine;

Fig. 3 is a View of the plaiting section of the machine, taken on theline 3 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical, sectional view, taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2,and illustrating the camactuated valve mechanism for controlling theapplication of suction to various parts of the plaiting mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional View taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view through the plaiting mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional vieW, taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. 1,and illustrating one of the strip-feeding devices and its cooperatingstriptransfer device for removing an individual separator strip from asupply and presenting it to the plaiting frame for the purpose ofdelivery to the mouth of the confining passage;

Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional view, taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional View, taken on the line lll- I0 of Fig.8;

Fig. 11 is a detailed sectional view, taken on the line Il-II of Fig. 8;

Fig. 12 is a View, in side elevation, of the main jaw member of one ofthe strip-transfer devices;

Fig. 13 is a view, in side elevation, of the secondary jaw member ofsaid device;

Fig. 14 is a detail, vertical sectional View illustrating thecam-actuated connections for operating the strip-feeding device, and

Fig. 15 is a detail sectional view, taken on the line l5-l5 of Fig. 1.

In the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate the same partsthroughout the several views and the sectional views are taken lookingin the direction of the arrows at the ends of the section lines.

The improved strip-transfer mechanism forming the subject-matter of mypresent invention is strip and around the opposite edge of the oneV nextabove it, and so on, thus folding the fibrous warp alternately about thespaced separator" strips. The function of these separator strips is tohold the fibers in proper relation to each other While they are cementedto a backing sheet, or sheets, and, in order to facilitate the removalof these separato;n vstrips at a certain stage in manufacture, theyshouldbe formed of a material which can be severed readily. The plaitedstructure, comprising these severable separator strips and the fibersplaited about them, is formed in a confining passage and, asit emergesfrom this passage, a cementihg' material is'applied to opposite facesthereof. This cementing material is then dried and webs of cemented basefabric are applied to opposite faces of the plaited structure andvulcanized thereto, after which the plaited structure is splitlongitudinally, giving two identical webs of cemented pile fabric, eachof which may be4 subjected to a beating operation for the purpose of`removing any re'- -maining pieces of the separator strips, a combing ortigering operation to arrange the pile fibers in substantialparallelism, and a final shearing operation by which such fibers are cutto give a pile of the desired depth.

The machine illustrated includes a pair of spaced plates defining apassage in which the plaited structure is formed, confined and advanced,and means for feedingv separator strips one by one from suitablemagazinesand delivering said strips to transfer devices. My presentinvention relates to an improved` strip-transfer mechanism fortransferringY the strips so delivered to strip-delivering position, andthemachine includes means for taking the strips so delivered anddepositing themone by one in the mouthof the confining passage `at thesamer time plaiting a Warp of spun yarn, or a web or bat of unspun`fibers, about the separator strips to form theplaited structure.

In the apparatus'for making cemented pile fabric disclosed herein, oneform of plaiting mechanism consists of a plaiting frame carrying a pairof parallel plaiting bars. This plaiting frame is moved to and fr o in asemi-elliptical path, so that the plaiting bars are alternatelyeffective to take up a separator strip and carry it to and deposit it inthe mouth of the confining passage, in which the plaited structure is tobe formed. A strip-feeding mechanism feeds the separator strips, one byone, from a supply and delivers them to myimproved strip-transfermechanism, which transfers them to a point at which they may bev takenup successively by the plaiting frame for depositing in themouth of saidconfining passage.' I find it desirable, when using a warp ofyarn, toprovide a reed, or warp guide, through which the individual yarns of theWarp run. This Warp guide may well be mounted between the plaiting barsand comprises partitions, which separate the individual yarns of thewarp, so as to maintain their lateral spacing,

and parts having rounded or smooth edges which bear against .thev yarnso-f thevvarp toplait them about the 'severable separator. strips, asthey are deposited. To give the plaiting frame the required movement, Iprovide a pair of shafts which are journaled in slidable bars and carryeccentrics bearing on the plaiting frame and the eccentric shafts arerotated, While the slidable bars in which the shafts are journaled arereciprocated, so that, as the result of these tWo actions, the loWeredges of the plaiting bars trace ,semi-elliptical paths.

Referring to the numbered parts of the drawings, upon the base 35, whichis provided with a central opening 36, through which the plaitedstructure passes to the vulcanizer, there are mounted two side members31 and 38. Each of these side members consists of a pair of verticalpillars connected by cross members, as at 39 and 4l. The side members,31 and 33, are tied togethei" by the base 35, and by various crossmembers, as will be pointed out hereinafter. Mounted upon the upper endsof the pillars of side members 31 and 33, are transverse ,yokes 42 and43, which tie said side members together. Secured to the tops of yokes42 and 43 are the horizontal parallel rails 44, which support theyarn-supplying mechanism.

The power for operating the. machine. is. trans.- mitted to it by themain drive shaft 4,35., which has a bevel gear i6 secured to one end,thereof, meshing with a bevel gear upon the vertical shaft 48. On theupper end of shaft '428, there. is a bevel pinion 49 meshing.Withthebev-el gear'50, which is secured tothe shaft 53| foroperatingthe plaiting mechanism, whereby that shaft is driven. Secured tor shaft4t. is a spiral gear V5 2 meshing with va spiral pinion 53 on a crossshaft 54'. Shaft 5 4 carries another spiral pinion 5,5v meshing with aspiral gear 56 secured to retaining finger release shaft 51, wherebyVshaft 5,1; is driven. A worm 5S is also securedl to shaft 54 and mesheswith a worm gear itu secured to yarn-Supplying. Cam shaft. 6.9. wherebythat 'shaft is driven to actuate the cams for the yarn-*supplynsmechanism.

A spiral gear el, fast on Shaft` @8; meshes with a spiral gear 52 faston a transverse'shafgt- 6.3. The latter has secured thereto, twospiralypinions 64 and E5, which mesh with spiral gears,V 6@ and 61 faston thestubshafts 8 3V andarespectively. These shafts drive thefmechanismby which cement is applied to Vopposite facesof the plaited structure asit emerges from the conflningpassage in which it is formed.

A worm 'lil` fast on the lower end of; shaftV 48, meshes with worm gear1l,- fast on a shaft '1;2 journaled in suitable bearings onthe, framemember. Si'. A pinion 113fast onshafti-Z; meshes with an idler pinion14j, which, inturn, n'f1 eshes with pinion. 1 5 fast on the endj oflthey,trans-l separator stripsare successivelyV deliveredjgtothe mouthof-a confining passage, and byA which the warp ofyarns is plaitedabout',saidfstripsjngthe mouth of said passage, comprises aplaitingframe which supports a pair of spaced, parallel, plaiting bars|43 and IM, Figs. 1 and 7. The upperfrend of the confining passage, inwhichthev aited Structure is formed by, the `plaitinaof.- thewarp Aabout the. Separator strips Bi is deinedfhy; the plates |45 and |45.The. plaitingfrem is given a movementin a..542.1111:ellipticalA path,Seithat first one, and then the other, of the plaiting bars is caused toenter slightly the mouth of the passage defined by the plates |45 and|46. As shown in Fig. 7, the plaiting bar |43 is entered slightly intothe mouth of said passage. As the shaft turns through 90, in thecounter-clockwise direction, the plaiting frame is moved upwardly and tothe right from the position shown in Fig. '7. During the next 90 ofmovement of shaft 5|, the plaiting frame continues its movementdownwardly and to the right to a position in which the plaiting bar 44is entered slightly into the mouth of the passage formed by the plates|45 and |46. During the next 90 of movement of shaft 5|, the plaitingframe moves upwardly and to the left from said position, and, during thenext 90 of movement of said shaft, the frame continues its movement tothe left and downwardly to the position shown in Fig. '1 in which theplaiting bar |43 has, again, entered slightly into the mouth of thepassage formed by the plates |45 and |46. As will be describedhereinafter more fully, the plaiting bars |43 and |44 take separatorstrips from strip-transfer devices, one at each side, and deposit saidstrips, one by one, in the mouth of the passage formed by the plates |45and |46, and, at the same time, plait the warp A about the strip lastdeposited in the mouth of said passage. To impart to the plaiting framethe motion necessary to cause the plaiting bars to travel in thesemi-elliptical paths heretofore described, each side member |5| of saidframe has, at each end, a semi-circular recess |52, and a cap member |53bolted thereto provided with a similar recess, which recesses receiveeccentrics |54 fast to the transverse shafts |55. The transverse shafts|55 are rotatably mounted in the ends of journal bars |56, one of whichis provided at each side of the machine. Said journal bars are slidablymounted and connections are provided whereby they are reciprocated bythe cam race |62 of the double box cam |63 fast on cam shaft 5|. Pinions|61 are secured on each end of each of the transverse shafts 55 and meshwith rack portions |68 on slides |69. Each of said slides |69, adjacentits mid point, carries a connecting pin |10, journaled in one end of aconnecting rod |1|, the other end of which is enlarged and formed toembrace an eccentric |12 fast on cam shaft 5|.

Referring to Fig. 1, it will be seen that, as cam shaft 5| turns through90 in the direction of the arrow from the position shown in Fig. 1, therack slides |69 will be moved to the left, Whereas the journal bars |56,carrying shafts |55, will be moved somewhat to the right. These combinedmovements result in a 90 clockwise rotation of each shaft |55 on whichthe eccentrics |54 are mounted, as well as in a horizontal translationof said shafts, thereby causing the plaiting frame |5| to move upwardlyand to the right from the position shown in Fig. 1. During the next 90rotation of shaft 5|, the rack slides |69 are moved still further to theleft, whereas the journal bars |56 are moved still further to the right,the combined movements resulting in another 90 clockwise rotation ofeach of the eccentric shafts |55 and in further translation of saidshafts to the right, so that the plaiting frame is moved downwardly andto the right until plaiting bar |44 is entered slightly into the mouthof the confining passage. During the next 180 of rotation of cam shaft5|, the rack slides |69 are moved to the right, whereas journal bars |56are moved to the left, thus imparting a counter-clockwise rotation of180 to shafts 55, exactly reversing the movement of the plaiting framejust described, and returning the parts to the positions shown in Fig.1.

A reed or yarn guide |14 is detachably mounted between the plaiting bars|43 and |44, and includes a series of transverse partitions |15,extending from one side Wall to the other of the yarn guide and forminga reed through which the yarns of the warp A pass, and by means of whichthey are kept properly spaced with respect to each other. Flanges |16extend toward each other from the lower edge of each side wall of theyarn guide and the adjacent edges of these flanges are curled at |11 toform smooth surfaces against which the yarns bear as they pass throughthe yarn guide.

The plaiting bars 43 and 44 not only serve in their movement to plaitthe warp A about severable separator strips deposited in the mouth ofthe confining passage formed by the plates |45 and |46, but each of theplaiting bars, when it is away from the mouth of the passage, picks upone of the severable separator strips and transfers it to the mouth ofthe passage, where it is deposited and released by the plaiting bars.

There are two magazines for holding supplies of severable separatorstrips, one at each side of the machine, each serving one of theplaiting bars, as shown in Figs. 3 and '1. Cross-members |19 areconnected to, and extend between, the side members 31, 38, of the frame,and these cross-members are located on opposite sides of the centralportion of the machine. To each of them there is secured a bed plate onWhich a supply of severable separator strips B is stacked on edge. Thisbed plate |80 has side flanges |8| to which a top plate |82 is bolted.Strips |83, secured to the top plate |82, extend laterally therefromabove the upper edges of the supply of strips. A follower |84, locatedon each of the channel-shaped bed plates |80, is provided with notches|93' through which the strips |83 extend as guides. A tail member |85 isfastened to the follower |84 and extends laterally therefrom. A lug |81,fastened to this tail member, extends downwardly through a slot |86 inthe bed plate |80, and the end of a cable |88 is fastened to the lug|81. The cable passes over a pulley |89 journaled in a bracket |90secured to the cross-member |19, and a weight |92 is` connected to thelower end of the cable |88 by means. of a spring |9|. It will be seenthat the spring and the weight tend to move the follower |84 toward thecenter of the machine, thus pressing the supply of severable separatorstrips B toward the feeding point. The follower |84 and the separatorstrips B move in the channel defined by the bed plate |80, top plate |82and the guide strips |83.

There are two strip-feeding devices, one for each of the two magazines.Each comprises a transverse shaft |94 journaled in brackets |93 formedin the ends of top plate |82. Cap screws |95 secure a front plate |96 tothe front faces of top plate |82 and bed plate |80, the front platebeing so formed as to leave a pasageway of about the thickness of one ofthe separator strips between itself and the top and bed plates for thepasage of a blade |91, which reciprocates in the channel thus formed.When the blade |91 is in its upper position, as shown at the left ofFig. 7, the supply of separator strips is forced by weight |92 againstthe corresponding front plate |96, so that the foremost separator stripB is beneath the lower edge of blade |91. When this feeding Vsecured toshaft |94.

'blade moves downwardly from the y.position shown at the left ofFig. 7,'to the position shown .at that' time in position to `receive saidVstrip.

The upper portions 'of blade |91 are .clampedbetween transverse bars |98and |98', the lformer of which have, at each end thereof, Vertical bores|99 (Fig. 8), in which the vertical posts 200 are received. Thus, thebars |98, |98 and blade |91 yare guided in their verticalreciprocations. The

lower ends of `posts 200 are secured within bosses 20| formed at theends of end plate |96.

Horizontal pins 202, extending from the ends .of bars |98, are journaledin the upper ends of links 203. The lower end of one of these links ispivotally connected to arm 204 of a bell-crank lever secured to shaft|94 (Fig. 14), while the lower end of the opposite link203 is pivotallyconnected to the end of an arm 204 (Fig. 3) ,also The other arm 225 ofsaid bell-crank lever is connected, in the case of the feeding device atthe right (Fig. l), to one end Vof a link 296, the opposite end of whichis connected to the lower end of .a lever 201 journaled on a shaft 208carried by a bracket 2H (Fig. l),

secured to the frame member 43. Lever 201 carries a rol-ler 299,engaging the edge of cam 2|0 fast on cam shaft 5|. A spring 2|5,connected at one end to lever 201 and at the other to a spring support2|5 (Fig. 3), draws lever 201 to the right, Fig. 14, holding roller 299in engagement with the edge of cam 2|0 and tending to move blade |91 toits lowermost position. Bell-crank 204, 205, is on the front end of theright-hand shaft |94, and a similar bell-crank is provided on the rearend .of the left-hand shaft |94. Similar connections are provided foractuating blade |91 at the left of Fig. '1, and comprise lever 2|2pivoted on shaft 2|1 carried by `bracket 2| which lever carries a roller2|4 'engaging the edge of a corresponding cam 2|0 fast on cam shaft Thelower end of lever 212 is 'connected to one end of a link 2|3, theopposite end of which is connected to the bell-crank arm 205corresponding to that shown in Fig. 14, 'but at the rear, and secured toshaft |94 to actuate blade |91, shown at the left of Figs. 1 and 1. Aspring 2|6 tends to draw the Vlower end of lever 2|2 toward the left, soas to hold its roller`2|4 in engagement with the edge of `cam 219', and

tends to lower blade |91 connected thereto. It will be seen that, as camshaft 5| revolves, the blades |91 will be reciprocated alternately so asto feed alternately a strip from one or the other of the two magazines,each holding a supply of separator strips.

My present invention relates to themechanism for transferring stripsfrom the strip-feeding device to the plaiting mechanism, which will nowbe described. Extending inwardly toward the center of the machine (Figs.'7 to 13) from the innermost leg 2|8 of each of the cross-members |19,are lugs 2|9. To each of the lugs 2|9` there is bolted a bracket 220having a boss 22|. In the bosses 22| of the alined brackets 220, thereare journaled shafts 222 extending transversely of the machine. There isa strip-transferring device mounted on each of these shafts for use intransferring a Vseparator strip from the adjacent strip-feeding deviceto the adjacent plaiting bar.

`Each strip-transferring device includes a main vjaw member 223, havinga semi-cylindrical portion 224 concentric with-shaft 222. At each-endofimem'b'er 223y concentric with the semicylinembrace shaftV 222 andrare 'secured thereto. Diametrically in Valinement 'with the shaft 222,member 223 has a flat bearing surfaceY 226, in which there is formed adepressed`seat'221, which is the width of one of the severable separatorstrips, and is adapted to receive'said strip from vthe strip-feedingdevice. AExtending at Iright angles to this seat through the portionv226, there is a pair of parallel guideways 228, and inthe extendedportions 229 of the member there are similar guidewaysI 230Which are vinline with guideways 228. Slots 23| are formed in the-porL tion 22B andin the extended portions 229,.'as shown in Fig. 12. The other member Vofthe device consists of a secondary ,jaw member 232, the main portion ofwhich is slidable upon, and in engagement with, the portion 226 ofmember 223. The member 232 is provided with extended portions 233, whichare arched so as to pass around the shaft 222, and which terminate rinseats 234 adapted to engage the flat extended portions 229 of the mainmember. Feathers 235 are formed on the slidable member 232, which t inthe guideways 228 and 230 of the main member. Threaded studs 23B,carried by the secondary jaw member, extend Vthrough the slots 231| ofthemain jawmember, 4and have thereon springs 231 compressed between theback Vof the main jaw member and nuts 238 threaded on the studs, so thatthe springs yieldingly hold the slidable secondary jaw member inengagement with the main jaw member.

Rollers 249 are journaled on pins extending from each end of thesecondary jaw member 232, and work in earn `slots 242 formed in plates24| bolted to the brackets 220. The cam slots are of such shape that, ascam 272-2 is'rocked to carry the strip-transferring device from thevertical position, as shown at the right Yof Fig. '7, to a horizontalposition, 'as-shown at the left of Fig. 7, the secondary j-aw memberwill be caused to retract, that is, `move toward-s shaft 222, so as tooccupy the position withrespect to the main jaw member indicated at theleft of Fig. 7. Thus, the slidable secondary jaw member is in itsextended position whenY the device occupies a vertical position, so thata separator strip forced downward by the blade |91 will enter the seat221 between the fixed and slidable jaws. Then, as the shaft 2-22 isrocked through so as to present the seat 22-1 .and the strip thereon inahorizontal position, the cam slots 242 will force the secondary jawmember to slide upon the main jaw member and uncover the strip in seat221, so that saidfstrip may be engaged by the corresponding plaiting`bar, which is to remove the strip from the striptransferringv device andcarry it over and `deposit it in the mouthv of the confining `passageinwhich the plaited structure is to be formed.

Referring to Fig. 1, the right-hand strip-transfering Vdevice has an arm243 fast on `the front end of shaft 222, which arm is connected to oneendof av link 244. The other end of link 24,4 carries a` vhousing 244ain which Yare lodged two springs 244b engaging on opposite sides-a pin245 on the lower endV of a lever 246 pivotedion the-shaft 208. Lever246A carries a roller 241- engaging inthe cam ra'ce 248"ofthe 'doublebox cam |63 fast-on shaft 5|. The left-hand strip-transferring devicehas an arm 249--xe'd'to 'the-rear end of shaft 222,which'arm isconnectedatits lower end to one end of a link 25m-the otherend of whichlink is resiliently and pivotally connected at 25| to the lower end of alever 252, pivoted on the shaft 2|1, and carrying a roller 253, whichengages in the race 254 of the double .box cam |63 (shown at the rightin Fig. 3) fast on shaft 5|. Link 250 is connected to lever 252 throughsprings 250b engaging pin 25|, as shown in Fig. 15. These resilientconnections between links 244, 250 and levers 246, 252, result in thestrip-transferring devices being moved yieldingly to their limitingpositions. This enables me to secure precise registry between thestriptransferring device in vertical position and the blade of the stripfeeder and, also, permits of a yielding of the strip-transferringdevice, when in horizontal position, under pressure exerted by theplaiting bar when it engages a strip on the strip-transferring device.The latter action facilitates the transfer of separator strips to theplaiting bar.

A iiange 255, depending from each bottom plate |80, carries a pair ofthreaded, adjustable, stop screws 256, which are engaged by the back ofthe secondary jaw member 232 of the strip-transferring device, when itis moved to vertical position, so that seat 221 will be in accuratealinement with the corresponding blade |91, and so that that blade mayforce a severable separator strip B into said seat.

In order that each severable saparator strip shall be retained upon theplaiting bar |43 or |44, while it is being carried by the plaiting barfrom the corresponding strip-transferring device to, and is beingdeposited in, the mouth of the conning passage in which the plaitedstructure is formed, I have provided suction connections for each ofthese plaiting bars. In each plaiting bar there is alongitudinally-extending passage 251 (Fig. 7), closed at one end.Lateral passages 258 lead from the central passage to cup-shapedrecesses 259 in the lower face of the plaiting bar. A flexible tube 26|(Fig. 2) is connected to the open end of the central passage 251 cfplaiting bar |43, and a similar flexible tube 260 is connected to thesimilar passage 251 in the plaiting bar |44. Thus, when the tubes 269and 26| are connected with a source of reduced pressure, suction isapplied at the cup-shaped recesses 259, thus holding a separator stripagainst the lower face of the plaiting bar. When the tube 260, or 26|,is disconnected from the source of suction and connected withatmosphere, the suction will be broken and the strip released from theplaiting bar.

It is also necessary to provide means for retaining a separator stripupon the main jaw member of the strip-transferring device while thedevice is being rotated from its vertical, stripreceiving position toits horizontal, strip-delivering position. Accordingly, I have providedsuction connections for each of the strip-transferring devices foraccomplishing this purpose. The longitudinal passage 262 (Fig. 1l),closed at one end, is formed in the shaft 222. A block 263 having alateral passage 264 therein is secured t0 the back of thesemi-cylindrical portion 224 of the main jaw member by a cap-screw 265screwed through said block, through said semi-cylindrical portion andinto the shaft 222. The cap-screw 265 has an angular passage 296communicating with the central passage 262 in the shaft 222, andregistering with the lateral passage 264 in the block 253. Passage 264is connected by tubing 261 to the horizontal portion 268 of a T-shapedpassage formed in a block 269, which is secured to the back of thesemi-cylindrical portion 224 of the main jaw member. The verticalportion 210 of the T-shaped passage in said block is connected by ashort tube 21| (Fig. 8) to an angular passage 212 (Fig. 10) in anotherblock 213, which is secured to the back of the portion 226 of the mainjaw member. The angular passage 212 communicates with a short passage214 in the upper portion of the main jaw member, which passage leads toa cup-shaped recess 215 formed in the seat 221 of said member. Thepassage 268 in block 269 is also connected by tubing 216 with an angularpassage 211 formed in another block 218 secured to the back of thesemi-cylinr drical portion 224 of the main jaw member. This passage 211is connected by tube 219 with a passage 283 in a block 28| fixed to themain jaw member, which passage communicates with a cup-shaped recess 282formed in the seat 221 of said member. Thus, it will be seen that, bythe tubing and passages described, the cup-shaped recesses 215 and 202in the seat 221, on which the separator strip rests while it is beingtransferred, may be connected lwith a source of suction through ailexible tube 283, which is connected to the open end of the passage262. The strip-transferring device at the other side of the machine isprovided with similar passages leading to cup-shaped recesses in theseat 221 of the main jaw member, and these passages are connected to aflexible tube 284.

An angle bracket 285 (Figs. 2 and 4) attached to the side frame member38, supports a valve body 286 in which is formed a longitudinal passage281, closed at one end, and communicating at the open end with a tube268 connected to a suitable source of reduced pressure. In the valvebody 286 there are formed four valve cylinders 289, 290, 29| and 292,connected with the longitudinal passage 281 by lateral passages 293,294, 295 and 296, respectively. A piston valve is slidable in each ofthe cylinders 289, 29,0, 29| and 292, and each such valve comprises avalve stem 291 carrying at one end a piston 298, and, intermediate ofits length, a piston 306. The outer end of the piston 298 is providedwith a cupshaped recess 299, which houses the upper end of a spring 303,the lower end of which engages a plug 30|, which is screwed into thelower end of the valve cylinder, and which is provided with an air ventpassage 302. Nipples 383 are screwed into the front of the valve bodyand connect with passages 384, leading to the valve cylinders 289, 290,29| and 292, respectively. The tubes 260, 26|, 283 and 284 are connectedto the nipples 303. Vents 395 are formed in the valve body 286, near theupper end thereof, and also com'- municate with the valve cylinders 289,290,29] and 292, said vents being located adjacent the pistons 306, sothat they may be opened land closed thereby as the valve stems 291reciprocate.

A block 306 is also secured to the bracket member 285, and is providedwith guide-ways 331 of rectangular cross-section, and in line with valvecylinders 289, 290, 29| and 292 in the valve body 286. A plate 303,secured to the front of the block 399', closes the open sides of saidguideways, and these ways serve to guide the slides 309. Above the block396 the slides 309 are bifurcated and carry rollers 3|0, which, underthe pressure of springs '300, engage the edges of the corresponding cams3H, 3|2, 3|3 and 3I4, which cams are fast to a shaft 3I8 journaled inbearings 3| 9 on said bracket. Also securedV to 6 the shaftis a'ksprocket' 315, connected by'chain 35|-`6 toasproclet 3|'1 fast! on camshaft 5|=;

It''fwill be observed' that sprocketsv 3| 1 vand 3 I 5 are! off the samesize,l so that shaft 318 will be driven at the 'same rate as cam shaft5|. Pistons 298 and 306are so spaced'with reference totheports-295land`the vents305 that, when the valve stem |91- is depressedagainst the pressure of spring 300, piston 306' closesl air Vent 305,and piston 298 uncovers Vthe port-295 connecting the valv'ecylinder withthelongitudinal passage 281, sot that nipple 303 and* the tube connectedtheretoI areI cut offv from the atmosphere and connected with the sourceof auction, as shown ir-Fig.A 5. On the4 other hand, when valve stem291" ispermitted by the cam to rise under the pressure of spring 300",the piston 298 covers the port293, 291|',` 295, or 296., connecting thesuction passage'lwith the corresponding valve cylinder, andpiston 306uncovers the air vent` 305, so that the nipple 303 'isconnected withatmosphere through said air vent.'

C'amsr3I-l, 32|2, 3|3landf 3|||` are of such contour andi so locatedaround shaft 318, that the tubes 260,251, 283 and280 are connected withsuction during theV proper periods. of the cycle, and are connectedwithatmosphere during: the remaining portions-of' said! cycle. Forvinstance, each of thetubes 260i and 26|, which. are: connected to theplaiting..V bars '|435 and |44, is to be connected to the source ofsuction while; the plaiting bar isY travelingrv from itsy positionadjacent the stripetransferrng device to its positionin the n'i'ou'tlrvof the confiningV passage formed by the plates |45' and |46", and is tobe disconnected from suction and connected to atmosphere dur= inglitsreturn motion; Likewise, thel tubes. 283 and' 2841' connected with thestrip-transferring devicessare to be connected. with suction so. that itis applied at the cup-shaped recesses' 215 and 232? in the seatsl 221vvwhileY the corresponding strip-transferring device rotates from'Y itsverti calltof its. horizontal position, and. the. suctionA is then .tobe broken, so that aplaitingbar making contact: With. a strip. on themainvjaw memberlof the.V strip-transferring deviceas shown at theleft-hand: portion` of Fig 7, may remove the stripfrom said jaw memberand carry it over to itspositioni in the mouthof the confining pas-Sager' Accordingly, the valve-actuating cams are'so4 formed and locatedon the shaft` which carries them, thatthettubes 233- and 231| will beconnected with a source of suction during the part-ofY the cycle inwhich the corresponding strip-transferring device is. rotating from theverticallto the horizontal, position, and will be released-from suctionand connected to atmospherey during thef remainingpart of the cycle.

Plates. |4-5and, |46-, which form. the upper portion of. theconnngpassage, are carried by a painpf, parallel plates 325, 326, which forman extensionv of. the confining passage for the plaitedl structure andextend vertically. The lower.. ends. of plates325" and 326 are cut awayat 33.4'. so as. to., approach. more. closely to the peripheri'esofrollers 3.35 to be mentioned hereinafter. Atl the Ylower1 end of'theconfining passage formed by plates 325 and 325 there' is located themechanism (Fig. l) for rubberizing the opposite facesof .the'plaitedstructure as it emerges from this confining passage. This comprisesrolls 335 for. applying` a rubberizing compound, such as rubber latex,or a compound thereof, or other cementing material, to said oppositefaces of the plaited structure, and other rollers which friction` the`cementing compound into-the. opposed surface of the plaitedstructure.These rolls'. 335 are mounted in frames one at each side. of themachine, and each`v frame supports. a. pa-n. 361 containing thecementing: compound, such` as rubber latex, or` a compoundV thereof.Each frame also supports a roller 31.5: dipping. in. the cementingcompound in the a corresponding; pan 361; Roller 3.15., which dips inthe rubberizing compound in pan 36T, makes approximate contact with theroller 335., so as to transfer said compound'thereto, and the latterappliesit to the surface of the plaited structure., There-are alsoprovided rollers385 engaging the rubberized surfaces of theplaitedstructure, and the'gearing driving said rollers is such that4 each. ofthem runs at a materially higher speedthanthat of the. correspondingapplying rollers, 335,l thus serving to friction the applied cementinto'. the bights of the yarn loops. The applying: roller 335Y rotatesin. such. a. `direction that, wheres. it makes.` contact with. the.plaited' structure, its periphery is moving in the,y same.v directionwith it.. Its peripheral speed also substantially' ex'-, ceeds the rateof movement of the.plaitedstrucg ture, so that it has.. a .Wiping'actionupon the latter; The direction of:` rotation of the" supply roller 315is oppositeto that of the applying roller 335 with which it is*associated, and' the gearing connecting' theserollers is such-that,"vthe supply roller 3'f5lrotates` at asubstantially higher speed thanVdoes thei applying roller 335,1 theretsult beingY that. an.` excess.: ofcement is carried upward from: the troughVA 361 on the surfacefoftheroller 315y intov the nip between the.v latter andthe roller335,whosey surface as it leaves' the nip thus becomes coated4 uniformly withalm oficement which it carries to the pointiofappl'rcation'tothe plaitedstructure.

There is oneof these cement-applying 1units'- on either side of theplaited structure: so that-.there is a pair of cement-applying'V rollers335fengaging opposite faces of the plaited structure? as-it emerges fromthe conningpassage, and, turn ing in opposite directions so that theirperipheral portions in contact withv the 'plaited structure move in thedirection of feed of suchstructure. There. is also. av pairV offrictionrollers. 385cm gagingfoppositefaces of the plaited structurebe.-low the cement-applying rollers. and turning'V so that their peripheralportions in contact. with the plaitedstructure movein adirection'opposed to the feed of said structure.'v

Below the cement-applying-mechanism, I have provided a pair of spacedparallel plates. 39|, 39'21- (Fig. 1A), forming.another-confiningpassage in which. the plaited structure, opposite facesse! which.havenow been. rubberized, is. confined, while the cementing compound is.being dried thereon,A Associatedi with the; plates: 39|', 392;VA is aFdrier 393-, by means of which warm airrmayf-be applied toftherubberized" surfaces of the:plaitod. structure to.A dry them. Thisdrier. is notlde; scribed/1 or illustrated in detail, .sinceit mayrbesubstantially the' same asthatrillustratedtin'Fgsi l2 and 13 ofV myPatent No. 2,050,740, issuedAug.- gustV 11, 1936, to, which reference isherebymade.

At. theY lower ends of plates 39|, 392, webs of cemented base fabric Care applied to the opposite faces of the plaited structure. Rollers 391guide the coated surfaces ofVA the websCr offcemented base fabric intopressurecontact with the opposite coated faces of theplaited structureas :it emerges from the. lower end'of the;` passage formed by the plates39|, 3.92'. The. webscome from suitable sources of supply (not shown)and pass over let-oi rolls 399, which are covered with card clothing ofsuch a nature and so applied as to prevent the Webs of base fabric incontact with it from slipping circumferentially in the direction ofrotation of the rolls.

After the application to the plaited structure of the webs C of cementedbase fabric, it passes through the opening 36 in the base plate 35 ofthe machine, and thence to a vulcanizing apparatus, which issubstantially the same as that covered by my Patent No. 2,051,011,issued August 11, 1936, to which reference is hereby made for details ofconstruction of the vulcanizing apparatus. After leaving the vulcanizer,the plaited structure is split in two by a splitting knife, as indicateddiagrammatically in my Patent No. 2,050,740, and the separate webs soformed, after removal of the severed separator strips, are subjected tothe usual beating, tigering and shearing operations.

The operation of my improved apparatus should be apparent from theforegoing description but will be summarized briefly. 'Ihe yarnsupplyingmechanism operates to create and maintain a slack supply of yarn or warpA from which the plaiting mechanism draws as needed. The severableseparator strips B are stacked on edge in the two magazines, one at eachside of the machine, on the base plates |80. The warp A passes downwardthrough the yarn guide |14 of the plaiting frame, the individual yarnsof the warp being separated by partitions |15, and between the beadededges |11 of ilanges |16 to the mouth of the confining passage formed byplates |45, |46. Strips B are fed, one by one, from the magazine byreciprocating blades |91, which are so timed that, when the bladedescends to feed a strip from the magazine, the correspondingstrip-transferring device is in vertical position beneath the blade, sothat the strip is inserted into the seat 221 between the main jaw member223 and the secondary jaw member 232. As soon as the strip is deliveredto the strip-transferring device, the cam-actuated valve mechanism iseffective to apply suction at the cup-shaped recesses 215 and 282 tohold the strip in the seat 221 while transfer takes place. The blade |91now moves upwardly to its upper position preparatory to feeding anotherstrip from the magazine, whereupon the strip-transferring device rocksfrom its vertical to its horizontal position, the secondary jaw membersliding on the main jaw member to uncover the strip held on seat 221.When the strip-transferring device is in its horizontal orstrip-delivering position, one of the plaiting bars, |43 or |44, at theend of its semielliptical path, descends on the strip B, now presentedhorizontally in seat 221, and engages the sama At this instant, thecam-actuated valve mechanism acts to break the suction at recesses 215and 282, and to apply it at recesses 259 of the plaiting bar. Thus, thestrip is released by the strip-transferring device and adheres bysuction to the plaiting bar which is to carry it to the mouth of theconfining passage. The striptransferring device now returns to itsvertical position preparatory to receiving another separator strip fromthe strip-feeding device.

As the plaiting frame moves, the plaiting bar which made contact withstrip B, and removed it from the strip-transferring device, returnsalong its semi-elliptical path, carrying the strip from seat 221 to, anddepositing it in, the mouth of the conning passage formed by plates |45and |46. 75

At the same time, the beaded edge |77 engages the warp and deilects itto one side, folding it over the strip B last deposited in the mouth ofthe confining passage. As the strip on the plaiting bar enters the mouthof the passage, cams act to withdraw retaining fingers so that strip Bmay enter the confining passage. At this instant, the cam-actuated valvemechanism breaks the suction of recesses 259, s0 that the strip isreleased from the plaiting bar, which leaves the mouth of the passage onits return movement.

The plaiting frame comprises a pair of plaiting bars and there is astrip magazine, strip-feeder and strip-transferring device on each sideof the machine, serving one of the plaiting bars. These devices aretimed so as to work alternately and, consequently, first one and thenthe other of the plaiting bars receives a separator strip from itsstrip-transferring device and carries it to, and deposits it in, themouth of the confining passage, at the same time plaiting warp A overthe strip B last previously deposited.

The action of the plaiting mechanism results in the formation of theplaited structure in the confining passage and the feeding of itdownwardly therein. As the plaited structure emerges from the lower endof the conning passage, the cement-applying rollers 335 apply thecementing compound to opposite faces of the plaited structure, whichcompound is frictioned in by rollers 385. The cement is then dried andwebs of base fabric applied, as already described.

In the specication, and the appended claims, the terni warp is used asmeaning either a warp of spun yarns or a, bat of unspun bers.

I am aware that the apparatus here shown is susceptible of considerablevariation Without departing from the spirit of my invention and,therefore, I claim my invention broadly as indicated by the appendedclaims.

What I claim is:

1. In a machine for making cemented pile fabric by plaiting a warp aboutseparator strips, a strip-transfer mechanism comprising the combinationof a main jaw member, a secondary jaw member slidably mounted on themain member, means for swinging the main member from stripreceiving tostrip-delivering position, and means for automatically sliding thesecondary member on the main member as the latter swings from oneposition to the other.

2. In a machine for making cemented pile fabric by plaiting a warp aboutseparator strips, a strip-transfer mechanism comprising the combinationof a main jaw member having a seat therein to receive a strip, asecondary jaw member slidably mounted on the main member and movablefrom a position in which it covers said seat to a position in which theseat is uncovered, means for swinging the main member fromstripreceiving to strip-delivering position, and means for automaticallysliding the secondary member on the main member as the latter swingsfrom one position to the other to uncover and cover said seat.

3. In a machine for making cemented pile fabric by plaiting a warp aboutseparator strips, a strip-transfer mechanism comprising the combinationof an oscillating shaft, a main jaw member secured to said shaft, asecondary jaw member slidably mounted on the main member, means foroscillating the shaft to swing the main member from one position toanother, and means for automatically sliding the secondary member on themain member as the latter swings.

'4. In a machine for making cemented pile fabric by plaiting a warpabout separator strips, a strip-transfer mechanism comprising thecombination of a, main jaw member having a plurality of elongated slotstherein, a secondary jaw member slidably mounted on the main member,pins on the secondary member projecting through the slots in the mainmember, springs surrounding said pins and held thereby in engagementwith the main member whereby the second member is yieldingly heldagainst the main member but permitted to slide thereon, means forswinging the main member from strip-receiving to strip-deliveringposition, and means for automatically slidingl the secondary member onthe main member as the latter swings from one position to the other.

5. In a machine for making cemented pile fab` ric by plaiting a warpabout separator strips, a stripetransf'er mechanism comprising thecombination of a, main jaw member, a secondary jaw member slidablymounted' on the main member,

means for swinging the mainmember from strip; receiving tostrip-delivering position, a iiXed cam; and a roller carriedvby!saidsecondaryV jaw member and engageable with said cam, whereby theswinging movement of the main member causes a sliding movement ofthe'secondary member thereon. f

6; In a machine for making cemented pile fabric by plaiting a Warp aboutseparator strips; a strip-transfer mechanism comprising the combi=nation of a main'jaw'member having a strip-engaging surface, suctionconnections opening into said strip-engaging surface, means forcontrolling said suction connections; a` secondary jaw member slielablymounted on the main member; means for swinging the main member fromYstripreceiving to strip-'delivering position and means for automaticallyslidingV the secondary member on the main member as the latter swingsfrom one position to the other.

PAUL S. SMITH.

